Richard Cockerill slams Andy Farrell’s England appointment

Cockerill claims there is a "conflict of interest" with Farrell being involved in the England coaching setupMatthew Lewis/Getty Images

Richard Cockerill has criticised the RFU for appointing Andy Farrell as an interim England coach, believing that there is a “conflict of interest.”

The director of rugby at Leicester Tigers pointed to the possibility that Farrell could have eight weeks’ access during the RBS Six Nations to Chris Ashton, the England and Northampton wing. Farrell is the skills coach for Saracens, the club that The Times revealed was interested in signing Ashton in the new year.

“We will have to see how that works out with him coaching Sarries and coaching everyone else’s players as well. It’s a concern because there is a conflict of interest there,” Cockerill said.

“For example, Saracens are rumoured to be trying to sign Chris Ashton, and now Ashton could…

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